Manila, April 24 -- Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros is calling for an immediate ban on the operation of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) in the country, saying human trafficking is part of its business model.

Hontiveros made the statement during her inspection Wednesday, together with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, of a POGO firm in Bamban, Tarlac which was raided for human trafficking and illegal detention.

"Ginagamit talaga bilang legal cover ang POGO ng mga sindikatong scammer. At kahit pa ligal na POGO, hindi ikinaganda ng Pilipinas ang pag-welcome sa mga sugalang ito (Scammer syndicates use POGO as legal cover. And even POGOs are legal, these gambling hubs never made the Philippines any better)," she said.

"S...